Closure and openness: two opposing poles that describe how man can react before the breath of the Holy Spirit. The second is precisely "of the disciples, of the apostles": the initial resistance is not only human, but it is also "a guarantee that they cannot be deceived by anything and then find their way through prayer and discernment".
| VATICANIn the Mass he celebrated in Molfetta, Francis remembered the bishop who said: “‘Works of charity are not enough, if the charity of works is lacking. If the love from which the works leave is lacking, if the source is lacking, if the starting point that is the Eucharist is lacking, any pastoral commitment is only a stirring of things’.”
Jarah Alhawamdeh lost his right leg to cancer at the age of 15, but this did not stop him from becoming a mountain climber, first the Kilimanjaro and now Mount Everest. His goal is to save the school in the Amman refugee camp where he grew up. "I do believe that we, as Palestinians, should show the world that we are educated, successful and that we deserve to have a good life as any human being,” he said.
Francis is in Alessano and Molfetta today 25 years after the death of the bishop who was also president of Pax Christi. "True wealth for him lay in understanding the poor. He was right, because the poor are really wealth of the Church. Remember it again, Don Tonino, faced with the recurrent temptation to follow the powerful, seek privileges, to settle for a comfortable life".
The activist group protests the decision of some municipalities to expel refugees "because of their nationality or religion". The appeal to national leaders to oppose a "rhetoric" that "encourages or forgives" violations. Harsh criticism of international community for failing to support Lebanon in the emergency.
For EU foreign policy chief Mogherini, “We want to see the full compliance by all”. But no consensus exists on new sanctions among the EU’s 28 members. Iran’s role in Syria remains an issue. Rouhani insists that his country does not have aggressive intentions, that its weapons are defensive, and that it wants negotiations to solve problems.
For the first time in 36 years, a movie was screened in Saudi Arabia. Tickets for the first show open to the public went on sale today. For one moviegoer, “We’re opening up and we’re catching up with everything that’s happening in the world.” However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plans to modernise the country and boost the economy, hit by the low oil prices, has come in for criticism from conservatives.
The church of the village of Hutuo has been reduced to a pile of ruins; the tomb of the bishop of Luoyang, not recognized by the government, was desecrated; children are forbidden to enter churches; threats against Catholic parents and seniors: if they continue to believe they will not receive government subsidies or pensions.
The South Korean Church is praying for the success of the event, looking forward to "concrete" solutions to the peninsula’s problems. Hope was reborn with the Olympics. People are waiting for a message from Pope Francis.
A harsh exchange between Russia and the United States at the UN. Trump speaks of possible intervention, with the support of London and Paris. Moscow denounces the "campaign of aggression" against a sovereign state. Msgr. Georges Abou Khazen: "there are no certainties" on the Douma attack. The prayers of Christians for peace in the country.
